Door-lock-operating apparatus.



A. MAGNUSON.

DOOR LOCK OPERATING APPARATUS.

AEPLIOATION FILED 1101 .14, 1907.

998,624. Patented July 25, 1911.

S SHEETB BKEET 1.

W/T/VESSES.

, D I W CaVIVD VQ/MAA M A 'ATTOHA/E) A. MAGNUSON.

DOOR LOOK OPERATING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED N0v.14,19o7.

Patented July 25, 1911 2 SHEETSBHEET 2.

Z #1 [g] la a M J 67 6f 62 9 O lo) 0 I3 3! If y .9; O #9 WITNESSES/NVE/VT0'I9 ,4 TTORNE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL MAGNUSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY. OFJERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JER EY.

DOOR-LOCK-OPERATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 25, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it' known that I, AxnL MAoNUsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Door-Lock-Operat:ingApparatus, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention-relates to door lock operating apparatus especially adaptedfor use in automatically cont-rolled elevator systems.

One of the objects of the invention is to cheapen and simplify theconstruction and instalment of the lock-operating mechanism. Inapparatus ofthis character at present in usethe locks for the doors atthe different floor landings are operated by means of one or more camscarried by the elevator car. There is often-insufficient space in theelevator hatchway for these cams, which necessitates cutting in thehatchway to permit the cams to pass. The doors are usually out ofalinement, which requires expensive cutting and fitting for each door tobring the latches into proper adjustment with the operating cam. Myinvention avoids these objections by dispensing with the cams on theelevator car and operating the latches by mechanism located in proximityto the elevator hoist and operated positively therefrom, and

mechanical connections between said mechanism'and the latches.

7 Another important object of the invention is to positively do awaywith the noise incident to the operation of the cams and thecam-operating mechanism placed on. the car, by locating the operatingmechanism in the basement, or away from the car.

.Still other objects of the invention are to make this part of theelevator system more reliable in operation than heretofore, to have thelatch-operating mechanism near the motor, where it will be convenient ofaccess'for care and repairs, and where it may be made more powerful inoperation than devices now in common use.-

Qtlier objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelcombinations of elements being set forth in the appended claims, whichdefine the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus embodying my invention;Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section; of the floor controller;Fig. 3 is a modified detail thereof; Fig. 4 illustrates, in partsection, the hatchway door contacts and the door locking device.

Referring to the drawings, M represents a motor, shown as a shunt woundelectric motor.

C represents an elevator car or cage, and C the usual counterbalanceweight, connected to a hoisting drum D, which may be operated by themotor directly or through any suitable connections, such as gearing.

B designates the usual friction brake which is normally applied to theperiphery of a brake pulley Z) and is released from engagement therewithby electrical means.

11 order to operate the motor and to control its direction of rotationfor moving the car upward or downward the reversing switches R and R areused. They may be of any suitable character, and in the present instanceare shown as magnetic switches of the well known solenoid type.

A designates an electrically operated main line switch at which themotor circuit is closed. I

1, 2 and 3 represent floor landings, of which there may be any desirednumber, opening, as is usuahnpon the elevator hatchway. At each fioorare shown push buttons 11, 22 and and push buttons 11', 22 and 33 areshown on the car, while electrical connections are made between the pushbuttons at each floor and on the car and the motor-controlling devices.

111, 222 and 333 are relays which are connected to corresponding pushbuttons at each floor and on the car, and are adapted to be operatedupon closing the proper circuit by means of the correspondingpushbutton.

The hatchway doors are provided with door contacts 4 which are connectedin series with each other and included in a controlling circuit which isonly maintained when the hatchway doors are all closed. The preferredconstruction of these door contacts is shown at Fig. 4, in which twocontacts 44 and &4, between which is insulation materialo, are rigidlyheld in proper position upon the door casing by an insulated bracket 46.A metallic box 51 with a swinging contact clips 47 and 47 which are ilyenter'the clips upon closing the door.

10, 20 and 30 are combined door locking and contact closing devices, andthe preferred construction is shown in Fig. 4. Each hatchway door isprovided with one of these devices, and. since they are similar in everyrespect, I will describe the one shown upon the first floor, anddesignated by 10. A locking lever 21 is pivoted at 23 to a suitablefixture mounted upon the door casing. This lever is provided with alatch 25 which is arranged to cooperate with a keeper 19 which may beformed integral with the box 51 and so lock the door in its closedposition. The latch lever carries at one end two electrical contacts 26which are adapted to engage. or come into electrical contact with, abridging contact 27 which is suitably mounted upon a bracket carried bythe box 51 and insulated therefrom, whenever the latch lever 21 is inits locking position. A spring 24, whose tension may be regulated bymeans of a screw 29, tends to maintain the latch lever in its lockingposition. A spring or springs 2st may also be provided in addition to orin place of the spring 24. such springs being desirable to support theweight of the wires 17 and connected parts and insure the return of thelatch lever to locking position. The left-hand end of the latch lever isprovided with'a turnbuckle 28 which is connected by a cord 17'to a bellcrank 14-. Other cords 17 connect the locking devices 20 and 30 tosimilar bell cranks 15 and 16, respectively, and these bell cranks 14,15 and 16 are connected through the cords 18 to hell crank levers 10',20' and 30 forming part of the floor controller apparatus F.

The detail construction of the floor controller is clearly illustratedin Fig. 2, and it comprises a suitable base or support 52, upon which isrotatably mounted a screwthreaded rod 5 carried in'tbe bearings 5, andprovided at one end with a sprocket wheel or pulley 53. This latter issuitably connected by sprocket chain, belt, or other means to theelevator car or to some rotating part of the hoisting apparatus, such asthe drum shaft. in such manner that it' is caused to revolve ata speedproportional to that of the hoisting apparatus and also proportional tothe speed of the elevator car. A magnet casing 9 is screw-threaded uponthe rod 5 and is carried along in one direction or the other guided bythe rods 41, 41 in-the bearings 12, depending upon the direction ofrotation of the rod 5 corresponding to an upward or downward movement ofthe elevator car C. This magnetframe 9 is securely bolted to aninsulation strip 6 to which are attached conducting strips 7 and 8.Arranged adjacent to the path of movement of the insulation strip (3,and contact strips 7 and 8 carried thereon, are stationary contacts 111,222 and 333, similar in construction and each comprising a slottedsupporting bracket 5r secured to the base 52 by a screw 55 which passesthrough the slot 56. This construction provides means for adjusting theposition of the bracket 5 1 on its supporting base 52. The bracket 54 isprovided with a bushing 57 in which is securely fastened a rod 58 havinga flattened portion 59 to which are connected flexible contact holders60 and (30' carrying contacts (52 and 62, respectively. The contactholders G0 and 60" are screwed to the flattened portion 59 by screws 61and (31, and the slots pro vided in each contact holder permit thelatter to be adjusted in proper position. The magnet frame 9 contains asolenoid winding 10", adapted when energized to raise a magnet core 11which is normally held in its downward position by means of a spring 12.The magnet core 11" has connected to its outer end a head 13 which isadapted under certain conditions to engage one of the bell cranks 10, 20or 30. These bell cranks are similar in construction and each cranklever is pivoted at 66 to a fixture 65 which is slotted at 63 and 63 andheld in proper position on the support 52 by the screws 64- and 6t. Theslots (33 and 63 permit a limited horizontal adj ustment and thisadjustment may be widely varied by transferring the screws 04 and M toother holes (37. A set screw 68 limits the movement of the bell crank inone direction. A rod 36 guided at one end by a guide 40 lies directlybehind the long arms of the bell cranks 10, 20 and 30 and is.

connected at its other end to a switch lever 32. Rollers 37, 38 and 39are secured to the bar 36 at. suitable positions and adapted to engagethe long arms of the corresponding bell cranks 10, 20 and 30' adjacentthereto.

The switch 31 comprises a switch lever 32 pivoted at 32' to a bracketsecured to the support 52. and carries upon its upper portion aninsulated contact 34 which is adapted to bridge or close an electricalcircuit between fixed contacts 33 when the switch lever 32 is in itsright-hand or closed position. The opening of the switch 31, is effectedwhenever the bar 36 is moved to the right, by one of the bell cranks 10.20' or 30' engaging a corresponding roller 37,

38 or 39, respectively. A spring 35 tends to maintain the switch 31 inits right-hand or closed position.

As shown in Fig. 1 the elevator car Cis at rest adjacent to the secondfloor landing 2, and the hatchway door 2 is unlocked and partially open.The door locking means 20 is in. its raised or released position due tothe operation of the floor cont-roller acting through the spring-pressedpiece 13, bell crank 20', cord 18, bell crank 16, and cord 17. Theswitch 31 is in its open position, thereby preventing a circuit throughthe contacts 33, which, as will be pointed. out later, include thewinding of the main line magnet switch A and designate a suitable sourceof electrical supply.

In order to show the operation of the resent embodiment of my invention,let it be supposed that all of the hatchway doors are closed, and theoperator inthe our desires to bring the car to the first floorlanding 1. The car button 11' corresponding to the desired floor ispressed and a circuit is established which may be traced as follows:From the main by wire 72 and fuses to a junction 7 3, thence by wire 43through the cont-acts 4 of each door and to the magnet Winding 10" ofthe floor controller. The other terminal of this magnet winding isconnected by wire 74 to the common terminal of the magnet windin s ofthe reversing switches R and R. he circuit continues through the windingof switch R and by'wire 75 to the contact strip 8 on the floorcontroller, thence through winding of relay 111 by way of contact 111,and by wire 76 through the push button 11 to the main by wire 77. It isthus seen that by pushing the car button 11 a circuit is closed includ-.

ing the .door contacts 4, winding 10 of the 26 into electricalengagement with the stathe motor receives current from the main 'linethe same will revolve in the proper diticnar'y contact 27'. The bellcrank 20 will be moved into a position corresponding to the bell cranks10 and 30, thereby allowing the spring 35 to move the switch 31 to theright and electrically connect the stationary contacts 33. The reversingswitch R is also energized at this time to raise its core and connectedcontacts, and thus arrange the motor connections in such manner thatwhen rection to cause the elevator car to descend.

It is not deemed necessary to point out the motor circuits since theusual method of re and R.

versing the motor by altering or reversing its armature connections bymeans of revers ing switches is well known in the art. The relay 111 isalso included in the circuit justtraced and it will operate to raise itscore and connected contact plate, thereby bridging or bringing intoelectrical contact the stationary contacts 78. This latter operationcloses a self-holding circuit to the terminal of the relay 111 by wire77 and contacts 78, which is in )arallel to the push button 11',therefore a ter the relay has operated it is no longer necessary to keepthe push button 11 pressed in order to maintain the various circuits. Asbefore pointed out, one terminal of the winding of the main line switchA was open-circuited atthe contacts of switch 31 when the latter was inits open position. The other terminal of this winding was alsoopen-circuited at the lower contacts of the reversing switches R Sinceby pressing the push button 11 the switches 31and R have both operatedto close their respective contacts, a circuit to the winding of the mainline switch A is also closed and it may be traced as follows: From themain at the junction 73, locking lever contacts 26, 26 and 26, wire 79,contacts 33, wire 71 to and through the winding of switch A, lowercontacts of reversing switch R, to the main. The main line switch is nowenergized to raise its core and so close the motor circuit. and at thesame time a circuit to the magnet brake B and the motor is enabled tooperate in the usual manner to cause the elevator car to descend. Owingto the connection-s; between the motor and the floor controller, asbefore described, the latter,'or rather the screw-threaded portion 5thereof, will also revolve proportionally in such direction as to carrthe magnet frame 9 and connected parts, including the insulation 6 andcontact strips 7 and 8 carried thereon. in a right-hand direction, untilfinally as the contact strip 8 moves out of engagement with the contact111, the circuit through this contact, including the winding of rclay111, winding of reversing switch R and winding 10 of the floorcontroller a is broken. The apparatus included in this circuit at oncebecomes deencrgized and returns to their normal position. Thedecnergization of the reversing switch R interrupts the motor and brakecircuits and the motor and car come to rest, the car be ingautomatically stopped at the first floor landing. The dee'ne'rgizationof the reversing switch R operates to interrupt the circlnt through thewinding of the main line switch A at the lower reversing switchcontacts, and the latter becomes deenergized and drops its core. Theoperation of the hoisting apparatus in bringing the car from the secondfloor to the first floor causes the magnet frame 5) to assume a positionsuch that the head 13 of the magnet core upon being thrust downward bythe spring 12, engages the short arm of the bell crank 10 and forces itdownward. The long arm of this bell crank will engage the roller 7carried upon the bar 36 and move the latter to the right, opening theswitch 31. This movement of the bell crank 10" will exert a downwardpull upon the locking lever 21, acting through the cord 18 and 17 andbell crank 14, and the locking lever 21 will he raised out of lockingposition and at the same time opening any possible circuit between thecontacts 26. The door 1 may now be opened if desired, which will breakthe main operating circuit through the wire 43 and door contact 4 andrendering it im possible to operate the elevatoruntil the door has againbeen closed and the door contact 4 restored to its closed circuitposition.

If it is desired to bring the car to the upper or third floor landing 3by an operator at the third floor landing and the hatchway doors are allclosed, the push button 33 is pressed. A circuit is now closed throughthe relay 333 corresponding to the third floor, the floor controllercontact 333, contact strip 7, reversing switch R, and floor controllermagnet 10. The reversing switch R is thereby energized to connect themotor in such manner that it will operate to raise the elevator car-whenthe motor circuit is closed: by the mainline switch A. The energizationof the-magnet 1 0 raises the head 13 out of engagement with the bellcrank 10 and thus the spring 2% is enabled to force the locking lever 21into locking position and also short circuit or electrically connect thecontacts 26. The spring 35 is also free to close the switch 31 and thusa circuit is now established including the contacts 26, 26 and 26 of thelocking devices, switch contacts 33, magnet switch A, and

the lower contacts of the reversing switch- R. The energization ofswitch A, as before pointed out, closes the motor and brake circuits andthe car travels upwardly. Just as the car reaches the third floorlanding the contact strip 7 in the floor controller, which in themeanwhile has been moving to the left, passes from under the contact333, breaking the operating circuit and allowing the reversing switch Rto open its contacts, thereby stopping the motor. The deenergization ofthe magnet 10 on the floor controller allows the spring 12 to force thehead 13, which has at this time arrived at a proper position to engagethe bell crank 30 down against the bell crank, thereby unlocking thedoor 3 at the third floor and allowingthe same to be opened. As beforedescribed: the floor controller contacts 111. etc.. comprise twocontacts 62 and 62, which may be separately adjusted so that the circuitincluding these contacts may be interrupted on both the up and downtravel of the elevator car at the proper time so that the car will cometo rest on a level with the desired floor landing. The controllingcircuit is broken to stop the car at the upper contact 62 when theelevator car is ascending, while the controlling circuit is broken atthe lower contact- 62 when the car is de scending. Thus by properlyadjusting the position of these contacts the cariwill always stop levelwith any floor landing regardless of the direction of car travel.

Referring to Fig. 3, a modified form of floor controller contact holderis shown in side elevation. An upright 80 is secured to the support orbase 52 which carries a supporting piece 81 arranged at right anglesthereto. Upon this latter is slidably mounted a holder 54. having a hole58 adapted to receive the contact supporting rod 58 shown in Fig. 2. Thesupporting piece 81 is vertically adjustable on the upright 80 and may.be locked against movement by a set screw 84. The holder 5-1 ishorizontally adjustable along the arm of the supporting piece 81 and islocked in position by means of the set screw 83, while the contactsupporting rod 58 is firmly held in proper position in the hole 58 bythe set screw 82. By slightly turning the-rod 58 in the holder 54, thetension or'pressure with which the contacts 62 and 62 bear down upon thecontact strips 7 or 8 of the floor controller may be varied at will.

lVhile I have shown but three floor landings and the various relays,push buttons, door contact devices, and arrangement of the floorcontroller, are all suitable for an elevator system having three floorlandings, my invention is equally adapted to an elevator system havingany desired number of floor landings, the additional floor landingsmerely requiring a duplication of parts heretofore described inconnection with a three-floor installation. In order to operate the carafter the same has come to rest at any desired floor landing it isnecessary to energize the switch A and thereby close the motor circuit.Since the winding of switch A is in series with the contacts 26, 26 and26', of the door locking means, it follows that all of the doors mustbeclose and securely locked before it is possible to close a circuitthrough the locking lever contacts and winding of switch A. Furthermore,this circuit includes the contacts of switch 31 and the contacts ofeither one of the reversing switches R and R, and in order to completethis circuit one of the reversing switches must be previously operatedto close its contacts and the switch 31 must likewise be closed so thatits contacts 33 are in electrical engagement. In order to operate'eitherof the reversing switches R or R the doorcontilcts 4 must all beclosed, since the door contacts are included in the circuit whichoperates to energize either of the reversing switches. Also the floorcontroller magnet 10" must be energized to allow the switch 31 toelectrically connect its contacts 33 before it is possible to completea. circuit to the winding of switch A. The winding of the floorcontroller. magnet 10 "is also inclined in the doorcontact circuit. Thusit is seen that thereis no po'ssibility of oper-- atin the car unlessthe hatchway doors are all 0 osed and securely locked. The magnet 10 onthe floor controller operates to unlock the particular door at the floorlanding at which the car has come to rest, and this door cannot beunlocked unless the car has stopped adjacent to this particular floorlanding, since the floor controller or rather the moving part 13thereof, which travels proportionally with the elevator car, must be inproper position relative to the bell crank levers 10, 20 or 30 in orderto make it possible for the magnetlO to release the door locking meansat the floor landing at which the elevator car has come to rest, theother doors remaining securely locked except at such times as the carhas come to rest adjacent thereto.

The cooperation of the various parts of the system and the electricalcircuits therefor do not depend for their operation upon any oneparticular device or set of electrical contacts since the various safetyfeatures provided all of the hatchway doors before the car can be movedaway from any floor landing, and to insure that the car has come to restadjacent to any floor landing before it is possible to open thecorresponding landing door, are so interlocked both mechanically andelectrically that a false operation is absolutely impossible. Thus asafety feature is provided whereby all accidents due to the opening ofhatchway doors when the car is in motion or at some other floor landing,or when the car is started and the hatchway doors are not all closed andsecurely locked,

areobviated.

Various changes may be made in the apparatus shown and described, bythose skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention, and, while I have chosen a Well known type of push buttonoperated elevator apparatus for purposes of illustration and easycomprehension thereof, I do not desire to be limited to the specificconstruction and arrangement of parts as shown. Furthermore, myinvention is adapted .to electric elevator systems of all kinds, or anyother well known operating devices. My invention is equally adapted todirect, alternating or intermittent current;

the only changes which would be necessary to insure the closing andlocking of are well known to those skilled in the art and form no partof the present invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States 1s:-

1. In an elevator system, the combination with a motor, a car, and adoor, of a latch, a latch-operatin device separate from the car, andmeans or automatically operating said device when the car is oppositethe door.

2. In an elevator system, the combination with a hoist, a car, and adoor, of a latch, a latch-operating device remote from the car,mechanical connections between the latch and said device, and automaticmeans for operating said device when the car is oppo site the door.

3. In an elevator system, the combination with a hoist, a car, and'adoor, of a latch associated with the door, and means inde pendent of thecar for automatically operating the latch only when the car is oppositeor near the door.

4. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoisting device,and a door, of a door lock, an operating device therefor separate fromthe car, means for bringing said device into operation when the car isopposite the door, and mechanical connections between the lock and saiddevice.

5. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoisting device,and doors at the several floor landings, of latches for the doors,mechanical operating connections ex- ;ending from the latches, alatch-operating device separate from the car, and means for moving it inunison with the car into positions to operate the latches through saidconnections.

6. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoisting device,and doors at the floor landin s, of locks for the doors, alock-operating device located in proximity to the hoisting device andgeared thereto for movement in unison with the car, and separatemechanical connections between each of the latches and said device.

7. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoisting device,and doors at the floor landings, of a latch for each door normallyclosed when the door is closed, a latch-releasingdevice located inproximity to the hoisting device, separate mechanical. connectionsbetween said device and each of the latches, and means for operatingsaid device through said connections to release a latch when the car isopposite the corresponding floor landing.

8. In an elevator system, the combination with a hoisting drum, a car,and doors at the floor landings, of a lock for each door, alock-releasing device located in proximity to the hoisting drum andgeared thereto for movement in unison with the car, independentmechanical operating connections extending from the locks to positionsin which they may be engaged and operated by said releasing device whenthe car is opposite the corresponding door.

9. In an elevator system, the combination with an electric motor, a car,and driving connections between the motor and the car, of doors oppositethe floor landings, a latch for each door normally holding the doorclosed, push button motor-controlling circuits, a device separate fromthe car controlled by said circuits for releasing the latches, and meansfor moving said device in unison with the car into positions to beoperated to release each latch when the car is opposite thecorresponding door.

10. In an elevator system, the combination with an electric motor, acar, and driving connections, of a door at each floor landing, a latchassociated with each door and normally holding the door closed, alatch-releasing device separate from but movable in unison with the car,and means for operating said device to release'a latch when the car isopposite the corresponding door.

11. I11 an elevator system, the combination with an electric motor, acar, and driving connections, of doors atthe floor landings, a latchassociated with each door and normally holding the door closed, alatch-releasing device separate from but movable in unison with the car,means forstopping the motor with the car at a floor landing, and meansfor automatically operating said releasing device when the motor isstopped to release the corresponding door.

12. In an elevator system, the combination with a motor, a car, anddriving connections, of a door at each floor landing, a locking devicefor each door, a releasing device separate from the car, means formoving the releasing device in unison with the car, and means toautomatically operate the releasing device when the car is stopped.

13. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoistingdevice, and a door, of a latch, a latch-operating device located inproximity to the hoisting device, a latchoperating connection extendingfrom the latch to a position to be operated by said o'peratingdevice,and means to effect the op eration of the latch operating device whenthe car is opposite the door.

14. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoistingdevice, and a door, of a latch, an electrically controlledlatchoperating device separate from the car, and

wire connections between said device and the latch.

15. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoistingdevice, and doors at the floor landings, of locks for the doors, alock-releasing device separate from the car, and independent wireconnections between each lock and the releasing device.

16. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoisting drumand motor located below the path of travel of the car, and doors at thefloor landings, of locks for the doors, an electrically controlledlockoperating device located below the car and geared to the hoistingdrum, and mechanical connections between the locks and lock operatingdevice.

17. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoistingdevice, and doors at the floor landlngs, of a lock associated with eachdoor, an electro-magnet separate from the car and. geared to thehoisting device for movement in unison with the car, means 'forautomatically eflecting the operation of the magnet armature when thecar is brought to rest opposite a floor landing, and mechanicalconnections extending from the locks to positions to be operated by thearmature when the car is opposite the corresponding door.

18. In an elevator system, the combination with a car, a hoistingdevice, and doors at the floor landin s, of latches associated with thedoors, a bodily movable electro-magnetic latch-operating device separatefrom the car, means for operating said latch-operating de vice, andmechanical connections between AXEL MAGNUSON.

Witnesses W. H. STOKES,

JAMES G. BETHELL,

